The Oldests' Summer 2006 Journal

His first grade teacher sent home a black composition notebook labeled and ready for his Summer 2006 Journaling efforts. My goal was to be light with it but to have him do at least ten journal entries by the time school started. That is NOT asking too much, that's less than one per week during the summer. We did not hit ten and there's one week left but he's only got three to go. I think I'll have him do 1-2 more and leave it at that. Close enough and summer is for relaxing a bit no?

Here is one of his sweet journal entries below word for word (usually I give him the topics and he writes about whatever topic I gave him, I might ask for his input on a topic, but he's not that broad yet in his thinking....)

June 2, 2006 by the Oldest (and if you haven't figured out by now, I've substituted 'the Oldest' for his name in lieu of some internet privacy...)

What symbols would I use to represent my family?

A butterfly for Lucas. A heart for love. And an American Flag because we're proud of our country.

Ok, he's going into second grade. He wrote REALLY big on the page so the title and all three sentences took up the WHOLE page but hey, it's summer and I'm not gonna bust his you know whats over it. That'll come this year, when he tries to get away with it in school. I was just happy he was writing and thinking.

Here's one that is somewhat funny.

Would I like to be a pirate back in the old days?

Yes. I would like my name to be Jason Read. I would have two blasters, two small swords, two regular swords, and a hat with a skull and cross bones on it and it's black and white and two black boots with a brown coat and a parrot. That's all I would like as a pirate.

OK. As you can see, my denying the child ever to have 'weapons' is likely backfiring on me a bit as he has clearly fantasized about all kinds of swords etc. :) BUT again, he was thinking and writing and I just bit my lip. Gotta choose your battles; no?

One more for the road....

July 10, 2006 by the Oldest

How my baby brother grows since he was a tiny baby.

1. He's so cute
2. He wears white sox (verbatim and huh??)
3. He walks
4. He talks (streeeettttccchhhiinnnggg there but hey if he thinks he's talking to him I'm all good with that, they are communicating!)
5. He eleven months old
6. He looks like me
7. He has black hair
8. And most of all packed into me (?)
PS I love you Littlest it's true I really do love you. (all underlined)

On that note, I think journaling this summer has been a good thing. He quite protests it at the onset of the excirsise but in the end, it's good to keep his mind working.....he really is a sweet boy. I will keep this journal of his and he'll look back at it later in life and just laugh. Love that.

--Jenn